Marc Clairbois also evoked the intensive cooperation with The Netherlands in the field of cinema as well as the support for Dutch education in Wallonia and French education in The Netherlands.
The theme of this reception was “Mons 2015, European capital of culture”. A photographic exhibition entitled “Mons street review” was presented; inspired on the “Street View” function of Google, a company that has made some major investments in the region of Mons. It was an illustration of the success of Mons2015 (1.5 million visitors up till now), and of the cultural programme that will continue until the end of the year.
The presence of a Jazz quartet from the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, as well as some local Walloon drinks and food, further contributed to the excellent atmosphere of this reception. The Day of Wallonia and the Federation Wallonia-Brussels
On the picture from left to right H.E. Ahmet Üzümcü, Ambassador, Director-general of the OPCW, H.E. Chris Hoornaert, Ambassador of Belgium to the Netherlands, H.E. Laurent Pic, Ambassador of France to the Netherlands, Mr. Marc Clairbois, Delegate of Wallonia-Brussels in the Netherlands.
The Day of Wallonia and the Federation Wallonia-Brussels was celebrated in The Hague on the 23rd of September. On invitation of the Delegate of Wallonia-Brussels in The Hague, Marc Clairbois, and his spouse a reception was organised in the Sociëteit De Witte. Ambassadors, diplomats, representatives from Dutch authorities and associations and members of the Belgian community were present.
Marc Clairbois seized the opportunity to mention the most important fields of activity of the Delegation Wallonia-Brussels, the Walloon agency for exports (AWEx) and Wallonia-Brussels Tourism in The Netherlands. These domains include education, culture, scientific research, universities, the promotion of foreign trade and investments and tourism.
Special attention was drawn to several projects. Among those the opening of the lock of Lanaye on the Dutch-Belgian border in November 2015 by King Philippe of Belgium and the Dutch Minister for Infrastructure Mrs. Melanie Schultz van Haegen. This major construction project is of strategic importance for the economic development of Wallonia, since it will facilitate waterway traffic between the ports of Liège and Rotterdam.
Marc Clairbois also evoked the intensive cooperation with The Netherlands in the field of cinema as well as the support for Dutch education in Wallonia and French education in The Netherlands.
The theme of this reception was “Mons 2015, European capital of culture”. A photographic exhibition entitled “Mons street review” was presented; inspired on the “Street View” function of Google, a company that has made some major investments in the region of Mons. It was an illustration of the success of Mons2015 (1.5 million visitors up till now), and of the cultural programme that will continue until the end of the year.
The presence of a Jazz quartet from the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, as well as some local Walloon drinks and food, further contributed to the excellent atmosphere of this reception.
Marc Clairbois also evoked the intensive cooperation with The Netherlands in the field of cinema as well as the support for Dutch education in Wallonia and French education in The Netherlands.
The theme of this reception was “Mons 2015, European capital of culture”. A photographic exhibition entitled “Mons street review” was presented; inspired on the “Street View” function of Google, a company that has made some major investments in the region of Mons. It was an illustration of the success of Mons2015 (1.5 million visitors up till now), and of the cultural programme that will continue until the end of the year.
The presence of a Jazz quartet from the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, as well as some local Walloon drinks and food, further contributed to the excellent atmosphere of this reception. Five Master Chefs, Charity Lunch
Announcing our eighteenth Charity Luncheon. For over a decade now we have been holding these amazing events, to aid children in need. Dutch and expatriate ladies from various clubs in Den Haag, along with an eclectic mix of local and international dignitaries, have been enjoying these fantastic culinary experiences, and making significant contributions to charities in The Hague and Overseas.
The beneficiary charity for this event is ‘Make-A-Wish’, a generous stichting who, for 35 years, have been ‘granting magical dreams’ to terminally ill children. This is the second time the Luncheon will support this most interesting cause. The young lad who was the beneficiary from the last event had his dream to ‘meet Lionel Messi’ came true.
Four master chefs, Remco Biesma [Hotel Des Indes, Den Haag], Sido de Brabander [Hotel Crowne Plaza, Den Haag], Marcel Molenkamp [Hotel Mercure, Leidschendam] and Patrick Otten [Hotel van Oranje, Noordwijk], along with master Patissier Hidde de Brabander [Dreams of Magnolia, Den Haag] are giving their valuable time, and sharing special skills, to craft a culinary experience like no other.
Our Guest of Honour is the wife of The Mayor of The Hague, Mrs. Henriëtte van Aartsen.
Sligro are generously sponsoring the ingredients, the refreshments and providing the venue for this extravaganza. They are providing a wonderful selection of prizes for a raffle/auction to further encourage more generous support for this worthwhile cause.
The Five Master Chefs Charity Lunch, for Make-A-Wish, will be held on Thursday, October 29th, from 12h00 to 15h00 at Sligro Den Haag, Forepark, Linge 2, 2491 BX, The Hague, (070) 317 7777. The price per ticket is Euro.40, per person. Portion of this cost goes towards the Charity.
These events are always fully subscribed, and early registration is definitely recommended in order not to miss out on this experience, and the opportunity to help a child in need.
Enquiries should be directed to:
Patricia Hollamby
[070 358 8257 / 065 202 2156]
pmhollamby@icloud.com
Japanese imperial honor for Prof. Beukers
On Tuesday October 13th at 18h Dr. Harmen Beukers, Professor and Special Collections associated with the Scaliger Institute of Leiden University, will received an imperial award during a ceremony at the residence of the Japanese ambassador.
Professor Beukers will be distinguished in the name of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan with the Order of the Rising Sun, golden rays with neck ribbon. This in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the promotion of academic exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and the Netherlands.
The Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Ms. Irene Mkwawa Kasyanju
Ambassador Kasyanju, was appointed the Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania to The Kingdom of The Netherlands in October 2015.
She is a lawyer by profession and holds Bachelor of Laws (LL. B Honours) degree from the University of Dar es Salaam and a Post Graduate Diploma in International Relations & Diplomacy from the Centre for Foreign Relations in Dar es Salaam. Ambassador Kasyanju served briefly as a State Attorney with the Attorney General’s Chambers & Ministry of Justice of Tanzania before joining the Legal Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tanzania in April 1987. She is a career diplomat. Prior to her nomination as Ambassador, she served as Director for Legal Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for ten years (2005 – 2015).
Ambassador Kasyanju, represented the Ministry in various international and regional conferences including in the negotiations that led to the establishment of two main international (legal) bodies under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), namely, International Seabed Authority (ISBA) and International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in early 1990s in New York, USA and Kingston, Jamaica.
She represented Tanzania in the Preparatory process (1996 – 1998) for the establishment of The Hague based International Criminal Court (ICC) in New York; and at the Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries, which adopted the Rome Statute of the ICC in July/August 1998 in Rome, Italy. Ambassador Kasyanju, thereafter participated in various ICC meetings including Assemblies of States Parties to the Rome Statute both in New York and in The Hague.
She served at the Permanent Mission of the United Republic of Tanzania to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland for six years (1999 – 2005).
She participated in the AU negotiations, which nominated Tanzania to become the seat of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) in 2006 and successfully settled down the Court in Arusha, Tanzania in 2007. She settled down other international institutions in Arusha, Tanzania including United Nations Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (UNRMCT) the successor to International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in 2012-13; African Institute of International Law (AIIL) in 2013; and African Union Advisory Board on Corruption (AUABC) also in 2013. She played the central role in ensuring Arusha City became an international city by hosting many international organizations as possible.
Ambassador Kasyanju has held several national high-level ministerial positions including Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Audit Committee; Secretary to the Tanzania National Authority established under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) to assist the work of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in Tanzania; Member of the National Multi-Disciplinary Committee on Anti-Money Laundering; Member of National Civil Aviation Security Committee, Member of the National Anti-Human Trafficking Committee, and served as Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in many occasions.
The Ambassador of the Russian Federation, H.E. Mr. Alexander Shulgin
H.E. Mr. Alexander Vasilievich Shulgin is the newly appointed Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. He is bringing years of diplomatic and ambassadorial experience to his term in The Hague.
Mr. Shulgin’s career in diplomacy began when he graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations and joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in 1973. From this point onwards, he took up various posts in Moscow and abroad.
From 1998 to 2003, Mr. Shulgin was the Consul General of the Russian Federation in Marseilles and Monaco. Afterward, he returned to Russia for three years to be Deputy Director of the First European Department in MOFA. In 2009, he went overseas to commence his first term as Ambassador to Senegal and Gambia. This was soon followed by another term as Ambassador to Luxembourg from 2009 to 2012.
As expected from his postings in Europe, Mr. Shulgin speaks French and English in addition to his Russian mother tongue.
When Mr. Shulgin returned to Moscow in 2013, he resumed work in the First European Department, but as the Department Director this time. Two years later, in 2015, he was designated Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Netherlands, as well as the Permanent Representative of Russia to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
He presented his credentials to H.M. Willem-Alexander, the King of the Netherlands on October 7, 2015
As Ambassador, Mr. Shulgin is determined to promote further collaboration between Russia and the Netherlands in the upcoming years. He expresses that Russia has always considered the Netherlands to be one of its key partners and allies. The deep ties of friendship between the two countries have enabled cooperation in many areas, particularly in trade and investment, as well as culture. Unfortunately, this collaboration has been going through unsettling times, indicated by a significant decline in the turnover of commodities.
This development only motivates Mr. Shulgin even further to foster stronger relations and cooperation between the two nations. This will not be limited to the economic sector, as he believes an extended partnership will bolster Russia and the Netherlands’ capability to deal with new threats and challenges, such as international terrorism. He is optimistic that current obstacles will be overcome to welcome a return to robust cooperation promoting sustainable economic growth, peace, and security.
The diplomatic community in The Hague sends a warm welcome to Ambassador Shulgin and wishes him all the best in his new term.
Ploumen to attend G20 in Turkey
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Lilianne Ploumen will be participating in the G20 Trade Ministers Meeting in Istanbul on 6 October. She will also attend the OECD Global Forum on International Investment in the same city one day earlier.
Ms Ploumen has been invited to participate in the annual meeting of G20 trade ministers by the current G20 president, Turkey. It is the first time since 2011 that a Dutch minister has taken part in the G20. Items up for discussion include disappointing global economic growth and stimulating the involvement of low-income countries and small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in international trade.
Better trade
The Netherlands has knowledge and experience to share when it comes to aid, trade and investment, Ms Ploumen said. ‘Last week in New York, 193 countries adopted the new sustainable development goals, pledging their commitment to eliminating extreme poverty by 2030. Now it’s up to us to ensure the global trade and investment system helps us achieve this. For example, by placing greater focus on sustainability and corporate social responsibility, so we don’t just foster trade, but better trade.’
Doha negotiations
Ms Ploumen will be urging her fellow ministers to finalise the long drawn-out Doha negotiations on the further liberalisation of international trade. This is crucial for developing countries, as many businesses there suffer from the negative impact of complex regulations and lengthy procedures. The ministers will also discuss new challenges facing global trade, such as obstacles to cross-border services, the growing importance of the internet and disappointing international investments. The OECD Global Forum held the day before the G20 will also focus on international investment.
Refugee crisis
While in Turkey, Ms Ploumen will also be discussing the refugee crisis with the Turkish government. A number of bilateral talks, and meetings with aid organisations that work with refugees, are planned for Monday 5 October. ‘Turkey has already welcomed some 1.8 million Syrian refugees,’ Ms Ploumen said. ‘It’s an enormous challenge not just to provide these people with a safe haven, but to give them the opportunity to be self-reliant and build a new life until they can return home. Turkey is an important partner for the EU and the Netherlands when it comes to dealing with migration. We will be strengthening cooperation to meet the shared challenges we face, including the fight against people smuggling and human trafficking.’
Koenders: deeply concerned by human rights situation in Yemen
Dutch Foreign Minister Mr Bert Koenders is deeply concerned by the human rights situation and violations of humanitarian law in Yemen. ‘There is bitter suffering in Yemen. Four out of five Yemenis need humanitarian assistance,‘ according to minister Koenders.
That is why the Netherlands has worked in the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and with contacts in New York for a clear resolution on Yemen which argues for an independent international inquiry. However this did not gain sufficient support from both countries in the region or from western countries.
Minister Koenders is disappointed by the lack of support in the council. ‘The situation in Yemen demands our urgent attention. We cannot allow the daily reports of human rights violations to go unanswered.’ said minister Koenders.
The Netherlands has made its disappointment over the lack of support for a strong signal from the Council clear to the members of the Human Rights Council. The Netherlands hopes that the current resolution will be fulfilled in both letter and spirit, and will remain undaunted in its efforts to fulfil humanitarian needs and improve the human rights situation in Yemen. In this, the Netherlands is supported among others by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Yesterday minister Koenders took part in a ministerial meeting with countries in the region and European countries to come to a joint and speedy political solution to the conflict in Yemen. The Netherlands deems it of the utmost importance that peace negotiations in Yemen are continued. The efforts of UN special representative for Yemen, Mr Ismaël Ould Cheikh Ahmed, are crucial in this regard.
Matthias Müller, VW’s CEO
By Baron Henri Estramant & Christoph Haebler.
Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany: Volkswagen has appointed Matthias Müller, the head of its Porsche sports car brand, as its chief executive, as the fallout from the USA vehicle emissions test rigging scandal broadened.
Matthias Müller, 62, had been widely tipped to succeed Martin Winterkorn, who resigned his executive post on Wednesday, 23 September 2015. Müller shall take responsibility for steering Volkswagen through the biggest business crisis in its 78-year history. Additionally he will also remain at the helm of Porsche until a replacement has been named. Müller has led Porsche (which is owned by Volkswagen) since 2010.
Müller, who has worked for parts of the Volkswagen empire since the 1970s, is a management board member of Porsche SE, and deemed a confidante to the Piëch-Porsche family that controls Volkswagen through the holding company.
The research and development chiefs of Audi and Porsche, Ulrich Hackenberg and Wolfgang Hatz, have been be relieved of their duties by the supervisory board as well as Volkswagen’s top executive in the United States, Michael Horn.
For more information:
Volkswagen Cars and SUVs: www.vw.com
Porsche: www.porsche.com/
About Matthias Müller: www.newsroom.porsche.com
Profile of Matthias Müller on fortune.com: http://fortune.
Audi: www.audi.com/index.html
Saudi Aramco appoints CEO, Amin Nasser
By Baron Henri Estramant.
The world’s largest oil corporation Saudi Aramco has picked a career petroleum engineer, who oversaw its biggest projects of the past decade, Amin Nasser, to lead it through a price downturn and a market share battle.
The announcement from the Saudi Arabian state company ends five months of uncertainty about the new boss of the oil monopoly. Mr Nasser is known for pushing for cutting edge technology, and once said he sought to emulate the gas fracking revolution in the United States.
Amin Nasser had been acting chief executive at Aramco since April 2015, when his predecessor Khalid al-Falih was appointed Aramco’s chairman and also Health Minister.
Nasser, now in his 50s, joined Aramco in 1982 after studying oil engineering at King Fahd University. Over the past decade, he oversaw some of Aramco’s biggest projects, including the 2008 launch of the $10 billion Khurais oil field.
The post of chairman had previously been held by Oil Minister Ali Al Naimi, himself a former chief executive of the company. Naimi remains in the ministerial position he has occupied for 20 years.
Aramco said in its statement that Amin Nasser was appointed after the company’s Supreme Council held its first meeting in Jeddah, which was chaired by HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. Then the council also endorsed a five-year plan to 2019.
The April changes followed a shake up of leadership initiated by King Salman of Saudi Arabia who made Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the most powerful figure in economic and energy policy, while abolishing the old Supreme Petroleum Council, where energy policy had been historically made. The deputy crown prince is now the head of both an economic development super-committee and a new council overseeing Aramco, making him the first royal ever to directly supervise the state giant.
In The Benelux countries Saudi Aramco holds two offices, one in The Hague and one in Delft led by Managing Director Fahad Abdulkareem.
For more information:
Saudi Aramco:
https://www.aramco.com/en/who-we-are/our-corporate-governance/corporate-management/amin-h-nasser
Aramco Overseas Office, The Hague : https://aramcooverseas.com/
Unique Mozart concert by the Ciconia Consort
November 7th, 20:15h in the Nieuwe Kerk – Spui – The Hague
With the program ‘Hooggetalenteerd bezoek’ the Ciconia Consort honors perhaps the most important guest that ever visited the Netherlands. The magnificent, rarely heard compositions that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote as a nine-year-old boy 250 years ago during his tour through the Netherlands, are performed in a concert with theater.
You will get therefore a wonderful glimpse into the 18th century Dutch society, with as piano soloists the young talented Nikola Meeuwsen and Peiting Xue (both 13 years old) in the role of Wolfgang and his sister Nannerl.
In autumn 1765 the Mozart family visits the Dutch royal residence to act on the governor’s court there. Due to illness of both Nannerl and Wolfgang, their visit takes unintentionally longer than six months. In this period, the family also traveled to the cities of Amsterdam, Haarlem and Utrecht and Wolfgang and Nannerl gave several public concerts as a quatremains duo.
The Ciconia Consort will revive this tour. Actor Ton Feil takes on the role of father Leopold Mozart. Soprano Lilian Farahani sings the airs especially written for princess Carolina van Oranje Nassau. The libretto is written by musicologist and author of the book “Mozart in the low lands,” Jos van der Zanden, based on letters that Leopold Mozart sent from The Hague to the home city Salzburg.
For more information please visit www.ciconiaconsort.nl.
About Ciconia Consort:
“Surprising repertoire, surprising ambition – a discovery” (Bas van Putten – journalist De Groene Amsterdammer / NRC Handelsblad)
Since its founding in 2012, the Ciconia Consort gives sensational performances and the ensemble with surprising programs and high artistic quality won a permanent place in the Hague cultural field. The orchestra is led by Dick van Gasteren and orchestra members are leading young musicians who have made their mark in national and international competitions and concert halls. The orchestra will not only present a concert but an “experience”, “a special evening going out”.
PROGRAM:
Ciconia Consort conducted by Dick van Gasteren, Ton Feil actor Nikola Meeuwsen pianoforte Peiting Xue pianoforte Lilian Farahani soprano Piano Concertos KV 107 No. 1 and No. 3 Concert arias 78 KV and 79 KV Symphony no. 4 in D, KV 19 Symphony No. 25 in G minor KV 183 Concerto for Two Pianos in E flat major Galimathias Musicum Ticket prices (including consumption)
€ 28.00 € 25.50 Uitpas € 10.00 Children up to 27 years and Ooievaarspas € 2.50 children / until 12 years
Tickets are available via www.zuiderstrandtheater.nl or 070 88 00 333